official said: "I think many of us would like to see this case go away." But McVeigh's attorney complained that in the days after Sporkin's ruling the Navy had assigned McVeigh to "supervising people moving trash out of a room that's being renovated". In March, Judge Sporkin was asked to consider if the Navy had violated his order not to take any "adverse action" against McVeigh, who contended that the Navy had not provided him with an assignment comparable to his rank and experience. As negotiations continued, Defense Secretary Cohen supported the Navy's position in the case and warned Attorney General Janet Reno that any settlement needed to make clear the Clinton administration's full support for DADT. McVeigh and the Navy agreed to a settlement in June 1998. The Navy did not admit any wrongdoing and agreed not to pursue an appeal. McVeigh was allowed to retire with the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer and full benefits. He commented: "I'm happy that this case has been resolved on my terms. I think that all sailors can take comfort from this. I hope it sends a message that the rules and regulations that are in place need to be followed by the military." His attorney said: "It is the first time, as far as I'm aware, that the Navy has let stand a court decision that it has broken the law in this area. Obviously it has a precedent that can be relied on in the future." The Navy also paid McVeigh's $90,000 in legal expenses. McVeigh retired from the Navy on July 14, 1998. He said he had been treated well by other service members "with an exception of a few senior officers in the submarine squadron". He said: "I think the Navy has been fairly pig-headed. I just got set up and this thing just getting passed up the line and no one stopped to look at it." In a separate settlement reached months earlier but not announced until McVeigh settled with the Navy, America Online apologized and agreed to pay McVeigh damages for having improperly disclosed his identity. Outside the settlement, AOL announced plans to provide all of its 5,000 customer-service representatives with "scenario training" to protect their clients' privacy, and it posted a new version of its privacy policy online written to be "understandable to us mere mortals". References External links NPR Talk of the Nation: